WE Doubles Down, Down Under, with Buchan

AGENCY REBRANDS TO WE BUCHAN

SYDNEY— April 5, 2016 — WE Communications today announced the majority stake acquisition of premier Australian communications agency Buchan, a WE+ partner since 2008. Moving forward the agency will be known as WE Buchan and will continue to be an integral and significant part of WE’s global network.

“Since 2008, this valued and proven partnership has provided benefits for clients and colleagues alike,” said WE’s CEO, President and Founder Melissa Waggener Zorkin. “The power of WE is in the collective, and by bringing WE Buchan closer into the fold, clients will quickly experience the transformative power of communications. The immediate amplification of resources, expertise and reach, not to mention the magnetic cultural fit between both the agencies, will ignite how WE Buchan bolsters our offerings in the APAC region and around the globe.”

With offices in Melbourne and Sydney, WE Buchan has provided exceptional communications services in the Australian market for more than 30 years. Buchan is a full service integrated communications agency with dedicated teams in corporate affairs, investor communications, consumer and stakeholder management with a focus on the innovative industries with dedicated teams working in health, technology, consumer brands, retail, digital and financial and professional services. More recently the agency has been investing significantly in its technology expertise, something already at the core of WE. The roster of clients includes the Australian Taxation Office (ATO); global human capital experts Manpower; Australia’s largest not-for-profit private health insurer, HCF; eHarmony; Bentleys Chartered Accountants and Advisors; and dorsaVi. The current WE Buchan leadership team of CEO Rebecca Wilson, General Manager and Head of Consumer & Technology Gemma Hudson, and Founder/Executive Chairman Tom Buchan will continue to drive the business forward and provide exceptional service to clients.

“The deepening of our relationship with WE marks a very exciting time for us,” Wilson said. “The creation of WE Buchan will undoubtedly enhance our clients’ experiences through the sharing of ideas globally and access to a powerful network of diverse talent as well as the impact it will have for our colleagues as part of a truly global network.”

The announcement is further proof of WE’s momentum throughout APAC and the power of its network across technology, healthcare and consumer, including the recent appointment of industry leader Alan VanderMolen as president, International and WE+, along with Annie Ho as technology lead in Hong Kong. With the recent cross-regional win of Amadeus, a leading provider of advanced technology solutions for the global travel industry, WE is boldly on the move in APAC. The marriage of Australia’s pioneering spirit, as exemplified by Buchan, and WE’s fierce independence will be a force to be reckoned with.

About WE

WE works with some of the most innovative companies on the planet — those focused on delivering the next big thing. We partner with clients to transform their businesses through storytelling, in many different forms. Our playground is consumer, healthcare, social innovation and technology. Our fiercely independent mindset allows us the freedom to bring together the best talent, partners and ideas to create powerful, persuasive campaigns. That’s the power of WE. Shiny accolades like Cannes Lions, Integrated Communications Agency of the Year, Digital Firm of the Year, Best Large Agency to Work For, Communications Agency of the Year, Technology Agency of the Decade and, most recently, a PRWeek Award for Best Use of Social Media/Digital adorn our offices. But it's not about us, it's about our clients, their customers, and sparking a more elemental and immersive conversation. Talk soon. http://www.we-worldwide.com.

About Buchan

Buchan was founded in 1985 and develops strategies that cut through the clutter, combine traditional and digital strategies to bring campaigns to life through meaningful brand engagement and exposure. As an integrated, data-driven public relations and communications agency, our team of creative consultants understand the environment your stakeholders operate in and how to reach them. We believe in the energy and positive attitude of our team is our most powerful asset in delivering results for our clients.

For media inquiries, press only, please contact Martin C. Pearce [email protected] or Gavin Lower [email protected]